Rail-joint.



W. T. LINDSAY.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1912.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-BEEET 1.

5 W4 1?? PW Eiwuwwboz W. T. LINDSAY.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1912.

' Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@lmuewboa; i171? Z in aZJa/y WILLIAM THOMAS LINDSAY, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedApr. 15,1913.

I Application filed June 14, 1912. Serial No. 703,733.

To all whom it may concern T. LINDSAY;

A further object of my invention is to provide a rail joint including two interlocking members each formed from a single piece. of metal and each adapted to be welded to'. the abutting ends of adjacent rails. And a still further object of my invention is to so form and position the interlocking members or fingers of the joint that certain of the interlocking members will also act as centering members for bringing the rails into positive alinement.

With these and other objects in view, my

invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application. In the drawings thus employed: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of one of the joint members, clearly showing the locking fingers; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other joint member, part of the outer wall bein broken away to show the recesses formed or the reception of the locking fingers of the first member; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the complete rail joint; Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the member shown in Fig. 1 but looking at its opposite side, the member being shown in inverted position; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the member shown in Fig. 2 looking at it from the opposite side; Fig. 6 isa transverse section on the line 6-6 of'Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views 0% the drawings by the-same reference characters.

The preferred embodiment of my invention as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,

includes coacting locking members 10 and 11 which are welded to the abutting ends of adjacent rails. Each of these'body members is cast or otherwise formed in a single piece and the locking members are preferably welded to the rail ends before the rails are put upon the market.

As my improved form of rail joint absolutely dispenses with bolts, fish plates and the like, it will be apparent that the rails when properly equipped with my looking members may be laid with great rapidity and'ease and are therefore particularly well adapted for rush work or for laying temporary tracks during construction work.

One of the members 10 includes a base plate 12 which-in use seats upon a tie 13. Formed integrally with this plate, is a block 14 which is equal in height to the height of a rail and which is somewhat greater in width than the width of the head of the rail. This the plate and is preferably provided at one end with a vertical notch or mortise adapted to receive one end ofa rail, which end is beveled and welded to the block as indicated by dotted lines atl5. Oneside of the body member is strengthened by an ,integrall formed brace 16 which extends flush wit the edge of the plate 12, and throughout the greater portion of the length of the block and the ends of which merge into the body member. This brace is cut away'centrally as shown at 17 to form a seat for the head of a spike used for securin the joint to the tie. The opposite side of the block is strengthened'by a brace 18 which does not extend leaving; an extending shoulder for the reception of additional spikes; The other which also serves as a centering membenas will be hereinafterbxplained, and a portion of the block at the base of said member left intact to form a lateral shoulder 21. The opposite side of the block is also cut away-to furnish a longitudinally extending overhang-' ing shoulder 22. The block is further reduced to form a vertical shoulder 23 and is out block extends longitudinally ofquite to the edge of the plate,

short intermediate the length of the wedgeor fingers 25,

shaped member to form a substantially rectangular shaped locking member or tenon 24, the body proper of the block therefore terminating short of the thin end of the wedge member 20. The upper and lower portions of this tenon 24 are cut away at one side to provide a longitudinally extending vertical locking finger 25 and a centrally formed, longitudinally. extending, horizontal locking finger 26 which latter, is cutaway throughout a portion of its length as shown at 27 to form a spaced locking finger 28: The other member 10 has its block recessed to form a wedge-shaped locking member 29 which also acts as a centering member, coacting with the wedge-member 20, and a longitudinally extending side wall 30 which when the members are united bears against the outer face of the wedge member 20. This wall is provided with an interiorly formed shoulder 31 which engages beneath the shoulder 22, and the end of which abuts against the vertical shoulder 23. The block 1 1 is further recessed at 32, '33 and 34: to receive the locking members 26 and 28, the outstanding portion 35 so formed, seating in the recessed portion 27 of the finger 26.

The free terminal of the wedge member 29 is cut away as at 36 to form a seat for the lateral shoulder 21 of the block 11. The extended end of the brace 18 bears against the inner side of the end of the block 11 to assist in forming a rigid joint.

From the foregoin description, taken in connection with the rawings, the application and operation of my improved rail fastener will be readily understood and but slight description of the same is therefore necessary.

Aspreviously set forth the locking members are preferably welded to the ends of the rails before the rails are put on the market and when laying the track it is only necessary to properly posit-ion the ties upon the roadbed, place the rails end to end upon the ties in such a manner that the end 10 of one rail is adjacent the end 11 of the next and then move the rails to bring the tenon or looking fingers of the one into the mortise of the other. This movement to locking position is greatly facilitated by the wedgeshaped members 20 and 29 which as will be readily understood, act as centering members to bring the rails into proper alinement with each other. The seating of the shoulder 22 upon the shoulder 31 relieves the plate 12 from considerable of the downward pressure which would otherwise be exerted thereon.

The tenon 24 is of sutficient size to rigidly hold the members together and the locking members 25 and 26 lyin in planes at right an les to each other, sti en the joint against eit er vertical or lateral movement.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and efiicient form of rail joint and one which because of the ease in laying the rails, is particularly applicable for use in layin temporary tracks. It will be understoo however that I do not wish in any way to limit the joint for use upon temporary tracks, as it may be used with equal advantage in the laying of permanent tracks of all descriptions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rail joint including members adapted to be secured upon abutting rail ends, one of said members being formed with a wedgeshaped locking arm forming a centering member and with tenons or looking fingers at right angles to each other, the other of said members being recessed to provide a Wedge-shaped locking arm coacting with that of the first member and a wall spaced therefrom and having an interiorly formed shoulder, said member bein further recessed to form mortises at right angles to each other for the reception of the locking fingers of the first member, the wedgeshaped member of the first locking member being formed with an exteriorly formed shoulder adapted to engage with the interiorly formed shoulder of the spaced wall of the second member.

2. A rail joint including members ada ted to be secured upon abutting rail en s, one of said members being formed with a wedge-shaped locking arm forming a centering member, the other of said members being recessed to provide a wedge-shaped locking arm eo-acting with the arm of the first member, and a wall spaced therefrom.

3. A rail joint including abutting rail ends, one of which is provided with a wedgeshaped locking arm and the other of which is provided with a wedge-shaped locking arm and a wall spaced from its locking arm, said wall being provided interiorly with a shoulder.

4. A rail joint including members adapted to be secured upon abutting rail ends, one

of said members being formed with a wedgeshaped locking arm formin a centering member, the outer portion 0 said arm being under-cut to provide an overhanging shoulder, the other of said members being recessed to provide a wedge-shaped locking arm co-acting with that of the first member, and a wall spaced therefrom and having an interiorly formed shoulder upon which the overhanging shoulder of the first member seats. I

5. A rail joint including members adapted to be secured upon abutting rail ends, one of said members being recessed to provide a wedge-shaped locking arm and a wall spaced from said arm, the other of said;

members being provided with a wedgeshaped locking arm adapted for insertion between the locking arm and wall of the first member.

6. A rail joint including members adapted to be secured upon abutting rail ends, one of said members being formed with a wedge shaped locking arm and with a vertical wall extending longitudinally beneath the arm, and with a tenon extending inwardly at right angles from said wall, the other of said members being recessed to provide a wedgeshaped arm and a spaced wall between which the wedge-shaped arm and wall of the first member engage and being further recessed to receive the tenon of the first mentioned member.

7. A rail joint includingmembers adapted to be secured upon abutting rail ends,

one of said members being formed with a wedge-shaped locking arm, a wall extending longitudinally beneath the arm and a tenon extending inwardly at right angles from the wall and cut away to space its forward end from the wall, the other of said members being recessed to provide a wedge-shaped look ing arm, and a Wall spaced from the arm and further recessed to seat the tenon of the first member when said first member is p0- sitioned with its arm and wall between the arm and wall of the second member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM THOMAS LINDSAY. [1 s.]

Witnesses:

JAMES CLARK, CARL G. SMITH. 

